Winter Retreats Are Work!
I have had this on my mind for, about the last three weeks. Doing big winter retreats is hard work. I know that it is even more true here in the rural community at this point of time. Here is a breakdown of how difficult this stuff called “effective Youth Ministry”, actually is.
NO Prior Experience
Many of our students have never attended a winter retreat before, and so have no idea as to why they might want to attend. One kid asked me if we were just going to have church services all weekend long. Although my true goal is to place kids in a position where they might possibly hear God’s voice above the din of their lives, most kids will not come to something for this reason. That is why, we as a professional staff at CRF spend two months playing the part of salespersons.
I once had a friend, a very successful youth worker, tell me that the day you tire of the hype is the day you are through ministering to kids. It sounds unspiritual. I happen to agree with that statement though. Teenagers are still teenagers. A ministry that seeks to show kids Christ, who up until that moment have little desire to know him, have to work hard in order to put them in the right place.
Been There… Done That
There is a fine line that a ministry has to reach, and then walk on in order to keep kids returning. It is about developing a tradition which creates excitement. If a student feels as if they have done all that there is to do at a retreat, then they will stop being interested.
Each year we mix it up a bit. Kids know that they can expect something unique at each retreat. One year we had a well known band… the next we had caged, wild animals… then the riding bull… a comedy improv troupe… ETC! It is hard to keep on coming up with these twists. Don Cousins, who was at Willow Creek for a long time, told me about a year that they actually had kick boxers fight for their teams! As a matter of fact, This is the componenet that we still don’t quite have yet for this year.
Excuses, Excuses!
Kids are funny. They all use the same lines every year. Not one of the students that will eventually go to the winter Retreat, have any money. None of their parents will let them go. They all have a major school activity planned and it is all of their special birthdays. They all need rides to get to the departure point. They don’t like going outside. They are all planning on being sick. Every Kid. Every year.
I spoke to a youth leader who told me that it would be easy if he had a huge group but he didn’t. Therefore, getting kids to go to a winter retreat was really hard. Uhhh Huhhh, That is why, over the next two days we will call 200 kids at home and personally invite them to come. We will send a reminder postcard for last minute registrations. We will provide a late bus for athletes and cheerleaders from 7 different schools. We will remind them that they can, and even should bring their friends. We will talk to 200 sets of parents. We will work out payment plans, arrange rides, and tell kids what to pack. EASY.
Once this last year, a girl got mad at one of our staff guys for pushing her too hard to come to an event. She had already said that she DID NOT WANT TO GO! She brought her mother in to yell at the whole staff. We apologized. two days later she brought in her registration. She had decided to go.
Easier is not more effective.
Kids still believe in critical mass. They will ask the question, “Who is going?” We have found that kids go places where other kids are going. Acquire The Fire, National Youth Workers’ Convention, High School Football games etc… This fact will have us arranging dorms, getting 4-6 busses and drivers, arranging for the dinner stop (which must not take more than 50 minutes in total) placing, organizing, arranging and unloading 400 bags, sleeping bags, toiletry bags, sound equipment, competition supplies and follow up material bins (with forms, booklets, bibles and prayer guides.) It’s easier to take the 30 kids to Camp Igotanitchi for whatever they have planned.
Each student we take will cost the ministry a minimum of $50 toward their registration. For those less financially well off, $120. We will raise it all.
Our speaker is hand selected, prepped and prayed for. (and not as cheap as some) The band has been in contact with our techies. Sound check, Media shout check, Lighting Check!
It is about Effect not Events!
All of this because kids need to hear about Jesus, See Jesus, Know Jesus. We are committed to letting as many kids as possible get close to Him this retreat. That’s why each student, each program person, every volunteer and bus driver will have a Christian praying for them all weekend. We make sure of that. Without the miraculous intervention of a Holy God, this is just an activity.
Satan Hates Us
and he will prove it by fighting for each kid that gives us an excuse. He will threaten snow storms and scare parents. He will bring the noise for the next two weeks.
Why do we do all this? Because Jesus did it for me.
Reading this reminded me of all that went on back when I helped with the Winter Retreat in 2005 and also of all the logistics that go into doing camp with Worldview all summer. There are always a hundred things that could go wrong and amazingly, 99 of them don’t. Half of our students were made to come by their parents and amazingly almost all of them want to come back. We’re changed lives changing lives.
Wow, that’s so cool. So, you’ve been to Acquire the Fire? How did you like it? Are you planning on going again? This year the tour brought back a drama that the ministry first did in 2000. It’s called the Bema. They’ve re-vamped the whole thing, and I can say I think it’s the best year yet!
Esther, Our ministry is a bit different, but, we do encourage the small churches we work with to attend ATF. I remember the early days of ATF. I think that it can be one of those watershed moments in a kid’s life. Thanks for the comment.
You’re a rural ministry, and you have 7 high schools? Wow! I thought three was a lot. I don’t know whether to be excited for you, or thankful for me.
Yeah Paul. That is seven Public schools in a forty mile square. There are also the three private schools and the home school contingent. That is why our volunteer staff base is so important. We really do minister, county, corner-to-corner.
The potential is great… but the barriers can be huge. You can pray for us. Where are you? describe your community. Most of our schools are little 300-500 students.
Doug
Heyyyyy Doug! You spoke at the retreat I was at like a month ago. You might not remember me but you and i sat at the same table at lunch and we talked about skateboarding and we talked about music and stuff. You and my friend talked about hunting and I was the vegetarian and you guys were making jokes and stuff. But anyway, you gave one of the best sermons/ speaker things I’ve ever heard. It was my first retreat and it really changed my life. I already accepted Jesus Christ before the retreat, but there I learned more about who he is and really about who I am. Thanks, Doug.